Residents of Vineland enjoy a unique setting that combines small-town convenience with easy accessibility to the large-city attractions of Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Manhattan and the recreational advantages of the Jersey shore. Twice named one of the best places to live in New Jersey by Money magazine, Vineland is the largest city in New Jersey at 69.5 square miles, and features a country-like natural environment, ample recreational and cultural activities and affordable home ownership.

Business is booming in the greater Vineland area. Signs of economic growth are everywhere; from impressive new medical facilities to the Regional Transportation Center and the new Municipal Court complex replacing the old post office. With over 300 establishments, Vineland now accounts for over one half of the county?s retail sales, payroll, and paid employees. Expansion of the Cumberland Mall has included several large national retail chains, adding convenience for local shoppers.

The industrial parks continue to enjoy growth as well. Direct interstate highway access, Urban Enterprise Zone and Federal Empowerment Zone designations, and affordable land costs make Vineland a prime location for business growth. Currently, the City is opening another 100 acres contiguous to Vineland Industrial Park South, offering added business opportunities.

In addition to these new projects there are many established industries that carved their niche years ago and remain an important part of the local economy. Local business owners have caught on to the growing trend and have reinvented their businesses in order to be prepared for ?big business? coming in.

Agriculture still plays a significant role in the Vineland area, with about 400 farms operating in Cumberland County. Fruits and vegetables, flowering trees and shrubs as well as evergreens and perennials are the chief products.

The top employer in the area is the South Jersey Healthcare with more than 1,200 employees. Other top employers in Vineland are the Training School at Vineland, Kimble Glass Company, Sun National Bank, General Mills, Chemglass, Casa Di Bertacchi and DeRossi & Son Co.

Equally important to the area are the many not-for-profit organizations offering an entire range of social services, arts and heritage preservation and promotion.

The area?s public and private school systems and technological school are preparing tomorrow?s workforce. The community college offers many programs tailored toward local employment needs, including industry specific degrees, customized training courses, and leadership and community development programs.

However diverse our interests may be, the residents and business owners of Vineland are united by a common desire to use our skills and talents to succeed in our business and professional lives and to encourage business growth and a sound economic future.

Vineland's History

The latest census shows the population of Vineland at more than 58,000 residents, a far cry from the city?s beginnings in the Civil War year of 1861, when developer Charles K. Landis drove a stake into the ground marking the central point for his new settlement. By 1865, about 5,500 had settled in the 20,000 acres that Landis called Vineland. First-time visitors to the city are impressed by its wide streets, part of Landis?s vision. He paid workers $1 a day to cut an avenue - to be named Landis Avenue -100 feet wide and one mile long. The new town was close to a railroad, affording easy access to the marketplace of Philadelphia. When Landis died in 1900, his vision for Vineland as a well-planned town surrounded by fertile farmland had become a reality. Vineland continued to grow, attracting various industries such as glass manufacturers, food processors and clothing companies in addition to farming. Retail stores abounded in a thriving downtown section, reaching its peak in the late 1950?s and early 1960?s. Another milestone in Vineland?s history occurred on July 1, 1952, when two subsections of the town, Landis Township and the Borough of Vineland, were consolidated to become one city. Paul Brundage, then president of the Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce, began the movement. As provided in the consolidation plan, a mayor (John Gittone) and five councilmen were installed. Today, Vineland continues to grow and thrive. An Industrial Park attracts new industries, and the growing Cumberland Mall is the focal point for shoppers throughout the region with new national retailers moving in every day. In the midst of growth and change, however, that small-town atmosphere which makes for a relaxed, uncomplicated lifestyle has remained intact.